But on Rochester Mews, two unlikely lovebirds are struggling to find their festive cheer.

Star baker Mattie has hated Christmas ever since she had her heart broken on Christmas Eve. The only thing she hates more is the insufferable Tom, who has rubbed her up the wrong way since she started running the tearoom next door to his bookshop. So when Mattie and Tom are left in charge in the frantic festive days before Christmas, it might be cold outside but things are sure to heat up.

Can a bookshop full of romantic novels, a life-sized reindeer and a mistletoe kissing booth persuade two scrooges to fall in love with Christmas… and each other?

My Thoughts:

A perfect heart warming read to snuggle up with. When a book has Christmas, romance and festive baking in it you know it is going to be good. This is the second book I have read of Annie Darling’s and I found this one comforting and a nice festive read. Some of the recipes Mattie makes are in the back of the book which is an added bonus. The perfect Christmas read.

Everyone adores Christmas . . .

Especially Lizzy Kingham. But this year, she is feeling unloved and underappreciated by her family. The present-buying, decorating and food shopping have all been left to her. So she wonders . . . what would happen if she ran away and left them to it?

Lizzy heads to her favourite place: a beach hut on the golden sands of Everdene. There she meets an unlikely collection of new friends, all running away from something. But the spirit of Christmas gets under Lizzy’s skin: soon the fairy lights are twinkling and the scent of mulled wine mingles with the sea air.

Back at Pepperpot Cottage, her family are desperate to find her. For Christmas isn’t Christmas without Lizzy. Can they track her down in time and convince her she means the world to them, every day of the year?

My Thoughts:

Reading a book of Veronica’s is like having a warm comforting hug. I couldn’t wait to get back to the beach hut stories and this one was just as fabulous as the last. The book is broken down into three people’s stories and they are ones that people I think can probably relate too. I love how Lizzy describes the beach hut and what she does for others reminds me of my mum and how much we should cherish the ones we have close. Christmas always brings families together with delicious food. I wanted this book to go on and on.

I tattooed a number on her arm. She tattooed her name on my heart.
In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival – scratching numbers into his fellow victims’ arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust.

Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale – a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer – it was love at first sight. And he was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too.

My Thoughts:

Such a moving and powerful story based on the true story of Lale who is given the job of marking the prisoners that come into the camp, he has become the tattooist. The things he hears and sees must of been absolutely dreadful, you can really feel the emotion through out the book. It is an emotional read but a powerful one that I think gives a better understanding just what happened when people were brought to Auschwitz.

Paul O’Grady’s Country Life for the first time gives a glimpse into the home life of one of Britain’s best loved stars, alongside the animals he adores.

Sometimes rural idyll, sometimes hell on earth, Paul’s life in rural Kent has been shared over the years with some very vocal pigs, a mad cow, various rescued barn owls, the world’s most sadistic geese and Christine the psychotic sheep – among many other animal waifs and strays. And of course Paul tells the stories of the dogs in his life – including the tiny chihuahua/Jack Russell cross with Napoleonic ambitions, Eddie, Miss Olga, Bullseye, Louis, Boycie and, of course, Buster, the greatest canine star since Lassie. In addition, Paul shares some of his favourite recipes, explores country lore and superstitions, and extols the benefits of growing your own vegetables, herbs and fruit.

This is a warts-and-all account of country living, as far removed from the bright lights of celebrity as you could ever imagine. The trials and tribulations Paul experienced on moving to deepest darkest Kent as a dyed-in-the-wool city dweller are every bit as hilarious and eventful as you would think. He had a lot of new skills to learn, and fast: everything from how to churn your own butter and how to birth a lamb to the best way to lure a cow out of your kitchen while naked from the waist down.

My Thoughts:

I don’t really read many autobiographies but I am a big fan of Paul O’Grady so couldn’t wait to get stuck into this book, I regularly watch him on one of his many tb programmes that he does. This book is all about him moving to the countryside and about his many different animals he keeps there. Being a big animal lover like Paul I can see his passion and love for all the animals he owns. There are some funny parts which made me giggle, how he refers to a squirrel is just a corker. A charming book with some great little recipes at the back of the book that I will definitely be trying out myself.

It’s a time for hunkering down, getting cosy in front of whisky barrel wood fires, and enjoying a dram with the people you love – unless, of course, you’re accidentally pregnant to your ex-boss, and don’t know how to tell him.

In what should be the season of peace and goodwill on earth, will Joel think Flora is a bearer of glad tidings?

Meanwhile Saif, the doctor and refugee from war-torn Syria is trying to enjoy his first western Christmas with his sons – but without his missing wife. Can the little family possibly find comfort and joy?

My Thoughts:

This is book 4 in the series and I strongly suggest that you read the other three before this as you can get to know all the characters and there are lots of them and their stories first. I couldn’t wait to escape back to the Island of Mure where this book is set. This is a heart warming, sensitive and romantic story that will leave you feeling all warm and cosy in side. Jenny’s books just keep getting better and better and there could potentially be another one in this series.

A BOY WITHOUT HOPE is the heart-breaking story of a boy who didn’t know the meaning of love. A history of abuse and neglect has left Miller destined for life’s scrap heap. But in this turbulent story of conflict and struggle, Casey Watson is determined to help Miller overcome his demons, show him love and give him hope.

Casey Watson is back, doing the job she does best – rolling up her sleeves and fostering the children who, on first meeting, seem like hopeless cases. But when she meets Miller and discovers the truth about his disturbing childhood, even Casey begins to doubt if this child will ever be able to accept love.

Found naked and alone on a railway track, Miller was just five when he was first admitted into the care system. Emotionally tormented by his biological parents, Miller has never understood how to establish meaningful relationships, and his destructive past, and over 20 failed placements, is sealing his fate in society’s social scrap heap.

After a torrent of violent behaviour and numerous failed attempts to help Miller, Casey decides to make an intervention, implementing a severe regime that strips Miller of all control. But soon the emotional demands of Miller’s case start to take their toll on Casey and Mike. Just how far is Casey willing to go to help Miller and save him from his inner demons?

My Thoughts:

This is the story about Miller who is a young boy that after being found in dreadful conditions is taken into care. After many failed attempts of being in foster care he goes to live with Casey and her family. Deep down I knew there would be more to Miller’s behaviour than was being let on, it is sad how these children’s lives have been. It is interesting the techniques Casey and her family use to help Miller and I was willing that there would be a good outcome in the end.